Improvement in club-foot shoes



S ATES PATENT OFFICE.

' WILLIAM. AUTE' NIEIETII, 0 cINoINNATI, '"dIIIo.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLUB-FOOT SHOES.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,200, dated October 27, 1874; application filed May 21, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

' heel-piece and adjustable by means of, an endless screw meshing into a sector on the sole, and agnard or counter-plate to prevent the foot from being forced againstthe iron standards and chafing, as more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the shoe, as it appears upon the foot when fitted with my machinery for turning, and completely finished. It shows also the key in position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, showing the construction of the several parts when fitted into the shoe. Fig. 3 is a view of the bottom of the metallic sole and heel, with the lower heel-plate removed, so as to show the mechanism for moving the foot. Fig. 4 is an and secure astrong and firm lever for moving it, there is attached a stiff piece of metal, B, Figs. 2 and 3,. extending from the heel to the ball of the foot. Instead of this the sole A may be thickened at the instep, so as to secure thesame effect. At 1), Fig. 2, this strip B and sole Aare perforated, and a corresponding perforation is made at c in the upper heel-plate 0'. Through these perforations a rivet is passed and loosely headed over a washer, as seen at 0, Figs. 2 and 3, so that the sole may turn "readily about the rivet, as a center or fulcrum. Just beyond this rivet, which thus serves as the fulcrum, is attached the plate D, the horizontrl section'of the outer edge of which is convex, as seen in Fig. 3, while the vertical section of the outer edge is concave, as seen in Fig. 2. This outer edge is notched or has sections of a thread out in it, as seen in Fig. 3, so as tocorrespond with the threads in the screw E, into which it meshes. E is an endless screw, which runs in bearings E E in the side plates F F of the heel at E, Figs. 1 and 3. The outer end of the shaft on which the screw is out is made square, so that it may be turned by the key G, thereby causing the sole A or long arm of the lever to turn on the fulcrum B. The outer side of sole A is turned up at the point opposite the widest part of the foot, as seen at H, Figs. 1,2, and 3, so as to press against the foot more firmly, and thereby more readily bring it into position.

The metallic parts heretofore described, except the key, may all be embedded in the leather of the sole and heel of the shoe, as seen in Fig. 2, so as not to be observed any more than as seen in Fig.. 1.

To the under plate of the heel the stirrup l is attached, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, by means of screws in the bottom plate 0', Fig. 4, of the stirrup. The sides of the stirrup rise to about the height of the ankle on either side of the foot, and these may be jointed each to a supporting piece of metal on either side of the leg, the upper parts of which are firmly secured in position by a strap passing round the leg below the knee and then buckled. The side of the stirrup on the side of the foot opposite thelap H is bent or curved, as seen at K, Fig. 2 and 4, and within the curve, and-hinged to the side of the stirrup is the counteractingplate L, which may be adjusted at pleasure by means of the set-screw M in standard N. This has its edges perforated so that a soft pad may be secured to the inner side. Its object is to relieve the pressure of the foot against the stirrup, which otherwise always takes place as soon as pressure is applied at H on the other side to bring it into position.

In operation you put the shoe upon the foot of the patient, and turn the "screw by means of the key a little every day, or as often as desired, so as gradually to bring the foot to its normal position.

By this device you can make the change each day so slight as scarcely to be realized, yet which in time, by the continued use of the shoe, brings the foot into its proper position, and keeps it there until the parts perand toothed sector D, as shown and described, fectly adjust themselves to these new re1a-" when combined with guard-plate L, as shown tions, when further use of it may be dispensed and specified.

with. 2. The guard-plate L, with adjustable set- I do not claim the broad idea of a vibrating screw M, substantially as shown and described.

pivoted sole; but WILLIAM AUTENRIETH.

What I do claim as my, invention is Witnesses: 1 1. The arrangement of sole A, pivoted at b, WM. S. BATES,

and adjustableby means of endless screw E JEREMIAH F. TWOHIG. 1

Lana-1L- h 

